Source: Energy & Management Powernews, March 22, 2022
First German companies, including Getec Group and Uniper, have signed a cooperation agreement on the use of hydrogen produced in the United Arab Emirates.
The cooperation partner is Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among others, Uniper, Hydrogenious LOHC and "JERA Americas" signed a cooperation agreement on March 21.
As announced, the partners plan to conduct a joint study to explore hydrogen transport between the UAE and Germany. Under the agreement, which was announced during the visit of German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to the UAE, a supply chain for green hydrogen from the UAE to Wilhelmshaven will be established using LOHC technology. LOHC stands for "Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier," an oil-like organic substance that chemically binds hydrogen. In the short term, blue hydrogen is to be used, soon to be replaced by green hydrogen.
First blue, then green ammonia
For future deliveries of hydrogen and derivatives, Adnoc has also concluded offtake agreements for initial test deliveries of blue ammonia to Germany. The Getec Group and the energy companies RWE, Steag and "GEWEC" are involved. The cooperation with Adnoc is an "important step for the Getec Group to further develop hydrogen and ammonia as an energy carrier for a climate-neutral future," explains CEO Thomas Wagner. "We have ideal conditions for splitting green ammonia back into green hydrogen and feeding it directly into the natural gas grid, for example as an admixture for thermal use," adds Guido Zimmermann, CEO of Getec Platform Switzerland and head of the company's own competence center for green hydrogen. For initial pilot projects, he says, the blue or green ammonia can also be used immediately in a fuel cell.
Hamburg port logistics company HHLA and Europe's largest copper smelter Aurubis have also entered into a cooperation agreement with Adnoc. "A test delivery of ammonia from Adnoc via HHLA to Aurubis is to be used to test the supply chain and the use of ammonia as an energy source in copper production," Hamburg's economic authority reported March 21. In this way, if successful, copper production could be decarbonized.
Pledge of "well over 50,000 MW" of green energy
Siemens Energy, Lufthansa, Emirati renewable energy company Masdar and other partners are working on a project called "Green Falcon" to produce synthetic kerosene to decarbonize aviation. An expansion of the pilot project with 20 MW electrolysis capacity would be conceivable after a successful first phase, according to the companies.
It had become known in December 2021 that VEA wants to create a global power plant for clean energy. The country has a goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. The three companies, Adnoc, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Mubadala Investment Company, will combine their joint efforts in renewable energy and green hydrogen under the brand "Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company." The partnership of these three Abu Dhabi companies will reportedly have an exclusive renewable energy capacity of over 23,000 MW. A total capacity of "well over 50,000 MW" is expected to be reached by 2030.
Author: Davina Spohn